Give to everyone what you owe them

“Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:7)

 

Romans 13:1 is the verse had sometimes debated in the Korean church, which has experienced democracy and dictatorship. The debated views are as follows in general; one is that all authorities are from God, so the people should obey the authority above, and other is that the opinion isn’t right. We are hesitated how should do to apply the Bible contents recorded about 2,000 years ago to the current situation changed different to the past. God has given man reasonable thinking to make perceive things and situations as well as the faith. The faith of salvation through Christ and understanding of Bible lessons are essential for making the life right. We should be Christians who lead society right in the faith of proper judgment following the Bible teachings.

 

To state definitely, every kind of authority comes from Almighty God. Not only the absolute kingship but also the power of the evil dictators have been all allowed by the Lord in history. As the written in Job the Bible, Satan, under the permission of the Lord, caused great damages several times on Job’s children, property, and health. By seeing that fact, we can see well that nothing among authorities in the world has not come from God. Romans 13:2 is this, “Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” This is a matter to be understood not only in the upper and lower relationship simply but in the mutual relationship among all things.

If your finger is pricked by a thorn, it hurts and bleeds. The thorn of tree has a sharp shape given by the creator in order to stab. However, if we cut a thorn tree with a knife and throw it into the fire, both the shape of the thorn and the stabbing force disappear because of burning. Animals also move around and survive under the balance of food chain and power. And the same principle is true of the formation and maintenance of authority in human society. After all, the words in the Bible text, to live following the authority above is a lesson to live with harmony in compliance with present situation and order given to oneself. That doesn’t mean to abandon personal soul or not to do fulfill one’s original role. For example, let’s assume that new president was elected according to democratic procedures. The elected president may not be you had supported. Also his style of governing may wholly differ to your wish. Even so, since he was elected with the approval of more people, he should be recognized by all people, and the political order he suggested have to be followed.

Whoever can dislike him privately or ignore in mind his demands. However, such the personal thoughts and actions should not go forward to violate present laws of the national society. The term ‘wrong doing’ in the text means an act that may violate the law. And ‘doing what is right’ refers to an act that is legal. When being under difficult situations of dictatorship, people may try to break down it against dictatorship with possible ways and reasonable ideology, and yet they have to also accept the reality as it is. Otherwise, they will have to be pressured by the power of the upper government. Unless the purpose itself is to give up one’s life, it’s meaningless for any cases to lose the life.

Whether or not to comply with the power of the world is a matter to be determined according to God’s commandments. God’s commandments are delivered us through Christ’ lessons and conscience in Spirit. In the text, because authority was expressed as good thing working for God, deserves misunderstanding a quite. And the tax affairs was introduced as the basic task of the authority as the worker of God. In the end, the text is a teaching to pay taxes and tariffs, and to treat those who will fear and respect with fear and respect, that is, to regard important every authority one another.

Here, taxes are basic taxes for central and local governments, and tariffs are all kinds of taxes imposed on daily life. The burden of taxes is the obligations to keep as a citizen and as a member of society. If we don’t fulfill the obligations imposed, we will be subject to legal sanctions. And fear and respect are essential in dealing with each person of two kinds. It needs to be afraid some people even if without respect them, yet there are some others to be respected from others willingly.

 

It’s not this lesson is we have to treat people with hypocrisy and lies. It means to live by conscience in the awe of God with faith in Christ, but to acknowledge the reality and situation of the state and society. It is a lesson that we should try hard to establish order in the world fulfilling one’s duties and roles. Even if you don’t like it personally, it’s desirable to follow the majority’s decision. It is not the right attitude of a democratic people to incite others with complaints. It’s right to go one’s own way while giving what to give to others.

 

(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on Feb 27th 2022)